2.

cut and fold

Cut along the outer edge. Fold up or
down as indicated by the dotted and
dashed lines. All labels should stay on the
outside.

make a diffraction grating from a DVD-R

A diraction grating is a series of close
slits that disperse light.
rainbow

cu
t

ideal

fold down

3.

DVD

To make one from a DVD-R, split it into

quarters, peel o the reective layer
and trim a small clean square out of the
transparent layer. Try to pick a clean
piece without ngerprints or scratches.

PublicLaboratory.org

a)

CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

1.

Assembly instructions and usage at:

PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec

SpectralWorkbench.org

a)

attach to a webcam, phone, or laptop

The spectrometer can be mounted on a
camera phone, laptop, or with the help of
a box, attached to a webcam. Line up
carefully so that the rainbow is in the
middle of the image, and tape down rmly
so that the spectrometer stays rigid.

cut

Public Lab Foldable

Mini-spectrometer
CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

PublicLaboratory.org

b)

Assembly instructions and usage at:

PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec

SpectralWorkbench.org

Except for the diraction grating door, glue

or tape all aps down onto the outside.

peel apart

c)

trim

To work as a diraction grating the

DVD-R must be placed so that its
grating is vertical, making a horizontal
spectral rainbow. Tape your DVD piece
to the inside of the spectrometers
door, then tape or glue the door closed.
rainbow

violet

indigo

blue

green

yellow

orange

red

intensity

back view with

door open

reading spectra
Every molecule emits only certain
frequencies of light, and under the right
conditions a spectrometer can detect
these as rainbow bands. With two clear
bands, the mercury in compact
uorescents makes calibration easy.
spectra

fo
ld

up

b)

front view with

door open
close door

tape down

frequency
(in nanometers)
436

546

mercury

cu

fold down

CERN Open Hardware License 1.1

PublicLaboratory.org
d

up

d
fo
l

Public Lab Foldable

Mini-spectrometer
fo
l

up

SpectralWorkbench.org

fold up

1 in x 1 in

up

Dont forget to share and publish your

research as Research Notes on
Publiclaboratory.org, and ask
questions through the Public
Laboratory Spectrometry mailing list.

Join up, calibrate, & share spectra

Go online to Spectralworkbench.org,
follow the calibration instructions,
and youll be ready to upload
calibrated spectra!

l
fo

Assembly instructions and usage at:

PublicLaboratory.org/wiki/foldable-spec

This open hardware design was developed by Public Lab

contributors; You are free to reproduce, share, & distribute
with attribution.

fold down